I'm not sure why so many people had negative things to say about this movie. I caught this movie on the Independent Film Channel by accident. Once I got watching it I couldn't stop. I agree with the reviewers who argue that Renee Zellweger is the saving grace of this movie. With a different actress, this movie probably would not have worked. This film really allows her depth to come through the way some other big budget Hollywood films have not. I'm not going to hash over the plot line here- plenty others have already done that. Rather, I would like to comment that part of what makes this movie so exceptional is the subject matter- Hasidic Judiasm's quasi-symbiosis with mainstream culture AND post-partum depression.
Neither of these are topics are exactly Hollywood material. I think it is more the topics rather than the movie itself that makes so many of the detractors uncomfortable. Quirky movie, quirky topic, quirky actors. It's not a bad movie though. It doesn't soar, but it's a good movie and I'm glad I saw it. If you like movies that are "different" like the Royal Tennenbaums, you'll like this movie. If you're looking for hunky men and doe-eyed starlets and insipid story lines, this movie isn't for you.
Neither of these are topics are exactly Hollywood material. I think it is more the topics rather than the movie itself that makes so many of the detractors uncomfortable. Quirky movie, quirky topic, quirky actors. It's not a bad movie though. It doesn't soar, but it's a good movie and I'm glad I saw it. If you like movies that are "different" like the Royal Tennenbaums, you'll like this movie. If you're looking for hunky men and doe-eyed starlets and insipid story lines, this movie isn't for you.